Portable cooler and warmer using thermoelectric element

ABSTRACT

A portable cooler and warmer having improving cooling and/or heating performances and an improving assembling characteristic is provided. The portable cooler and warmer includes: a body to form an insulating space inside the portable cooler and warmer; a door to be disposed on a side of the body; a thermoelectric module to generate a temperature difference between the insulating space and an outside of the body; and an air blower to circulate air inside the insulating space to exchange heat with the thermoelectric module, wherein the air which has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module is discharged in a direction parallel with the door.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept generally relates to a portable cooler and warmer, and more particularly, to a portable cooler and warmer using a thermoelectric element.

2. Description of the Related Art

A portable cooler and warmer is used to keep food and drink, etc. at a constant temperature, in particular, is used in long-distance travels or camping. It is important for the portable cooler and warmer to have a small size and a light weight for convenience of carrying. For this purpose, a thermoelectric element is recently applied to the portable cooler and warmer.

The thermoelectric element applies a Peltier effect that refers to a thermoelectric phenomenon in which when a current flows at a junction between two kinds of metals, heat is produced or absorbed at the junction. Therefore, when a current flows in the thermoelectric element, the thermoelectric element operates as a heat pump to heat or cool an inside of the portable cooler and warmer. If the thermoelectric element is applied to the portable cooler and warmer, various kinds of mechanical parts, such as a refrigerant, compressor, etc., are unnecessary, thereby enabling a compact size and a light weight of the portable cooler and warmer.

However, in comparison with a refrigerator or a warmer cabinet using a refrigerant, a cooling or heating performance of the portable cooler and warmer using the thermoelectric element deteriorates. In other words, a long time is required to change a temperature of the inside of the portable cooler and warmer from a room temperature to a predetermined low (or high) temperature. Therefore, efforts to improve the cooling or heating performance of the portable cooler and warmer using the thermoelectric element are required.

In general, the portable cooler and warmer is not used at all times but is frequently temporarily used in travels or camping. Due to this, demanders prefer low-priced portable cooler and warmers. Accordingly, efforts to reduce manufacturing cost through the improvement of assembling characteristics of portable cooler and warmers are required.

SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a portable cooler and warmer using a thermoelectric element.

Additional embodiments of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by a portable cooler and warmer, including: a body to form an insulating space inside the portable cooler and warmer; a door to be disposed on a side of the body; a thermoelectric module to generate a temperature difference between the insulating space and an outside of the body; and an air blower to circulate air inside the insulating space to exchange heat with the thermoelectric module, wherein the air which has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module is discharged in a direction parallel with the door.

The thermoelectric module may include: a thermoelectric element to operate as a heat pump when a current is supplied thereto; an internal heat transfer fin unit to be located in the insulating space, be thermally connected to a first plate of the thermoelectric element, and include a plurality of internal heat transfer fins; and an external heat transfer fin unit to be located outside the insulating space, be thermally connected to a second plate of the thermoelectric element, and include a plurality of external heat transfer fins, wherein the plurality of internal heat transfer fins are disposed parallel with the door.

The thermoelectric module may further include a heat transfer block to be disposed between the first plate of the thermoelectric element and the internal heat transfer fin unit.

The heat transfer block may be assembled with the internal heat transfer fin unit through a pair of first tapping screws and assembled with the external heat transfer fin unit through a pair of second tapping screws.

The heat transfer block may include a pair of slots into which the first and second tapping screws are inserted.

The heat transfer block may include: a pair of first slots into which the pair of first tapping screws are inserted; and a pair of second slots into which the pair of second tapping screws are inserted.

The portable cooler and warmer may further include a cover to protect the internal heat transfer fin unit and the air blower.

The cover may be pressurized toward the internal heat transfer fin unit to be snap-fitted to the internal heat transfer fin unit.

The internal heat transfer fin unit may include guide grooves or guide projections for the snap-fit of the cover. The guide grooves or the guide projections may extend parallel with the internal heat transfer fins.

The cover may include first and second divided cover bodies. The first and second divided cover bodies may slide on the internal heat transfer fin unit in a direction facing the internal heat transfer fin unit to be combined with each other.

The internal heat transfer fin unit may include guide grooves or guide projections for the sliding of the first and second divided cover bodies. The guide grooves or the guide projections may extend parallel with the internal heat transfer fins.

The cover may include: inlets to allow the air inside the insulating space to come into the cover; and outlets to be disposed adjacent to both ends of the internal heat transfer fin unit to discharge the air that has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module.

The internal heat transfer fin unit may be formed using an extrusion process.

The heat transfer block may be formed using an extrusion process.

The portable cooler and warmer may further include a shelf to be removably installed in the body. Holes may be formed in the shelf, and the air circulating in the insulating space may pass through the holes.

Uneven parts may be formed at a junction between the thermoelectric element and the external heat transfer fin unit.

Uneven parts may be formed at a junction between the thermoelectric element and the heat transfer block.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by a portable cooler and warmer, including: a body to form an insulating space inside the portable cooler and warmer; a door to be disposed on a side of the body; a thermoelectric module to generate a temperature difference between the insulating space and an outside of the body; and a cover to project the thermoelectric module, wherein air which has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module is discharged through outlets of the cover in a direction parallel with the door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other embodiments of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a portable cooler and warmer according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the portable cooler and warmer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating a thermoelectric module of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cover and an internal heat transfer fin unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a cover according to another exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view illustrating a thermoelectric element of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a portable cooler and warmer according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the portable cooler and warmer of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating a thermoelectric module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cover and an internal heat transfer fin unit shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, a body 100 forms an external appearance of a portable cooler and warmer 10. The body 100 is formed of an insulating material to form an insulating space 101 inside the portable cooler and warmer 10. Food and drink, etc. are stored in the insulating space 101. A front side of the body 100 is opened and/or closed by a door 200. A plug 102 is connected to a power supply of a vehicle to supply power to a thermoelectric module 300. The portable cooler and warmer 10 may be used in a position shown in FIG. 1 or may be used so that a back wall 110 of the body 110 is laid on the floor. The position of the portable cooler and warmer 10 may be determined according convenience of a user.

The door 200 is disposed on a side of the body 100 to open and/or close the insulating space 101. The user opens the door 200 to put food and drink into the insulating space 101 and/or take food and drink out of the insulating space 101.

The thermoelectric module 300 generates a temperature difference between the insulating space 100 and an outside of the body 100 and includes a thermoelectric element 310, an internal heat transfer fin unit 320, a heat transfer block 330, and an external heat transfer fin unit 340 (refer to FIGS. 2 and 3).

If a current is supplied to the thermoelectric element 310, the thermoelectric element 310 operates as a heat pump to cool or heat the insulating space 101. The thermoelectric element 310 uses a Peltier effect and thus will be fully understood by those skilled in the art. Therefore, detailed descriptions of a principle of the thermoelectric element 310 will be omitted herein. The thermoelectric element 310 includes first and second plates 311 and 312 that are opposite to each other. In general, the first and second plates 311 and 312 are formed of ceramic, and n-type semiconductor devices 313 and p-type semiconductor devices 314 are disposed between the first and second plates 311 and 312 (refer to FIG. 6). If the current flows in one direction, heat flows from the first plate 311 toward the second plate 312. Therefore, the insulating space 101 is cooled, and the portable cooler and warmer 10 performs a role of a refrigerator. If the current flows in an opposite direction, heat flows from the second plate 312 toward the first plate 311. Therefore, the insulating space 101 is heated, and the portable cooler and warmer 10 performs a role of a warmer cabinet. For convenience of explanation, only a case where the insulating space 101 is cooled (i.e., a case where the portable cooler and warmer 10 performs the role of the refrigerator) will be described.

The internal heat transfer fin unit 320 is located in the insulating space 101 and is thermally connected to the first plate 311 of the thermoelectric device 310. Since the first plate 311 of the thermoelectric element 310 is maintained at a low temperature, air inside the insulating space 101 exchanges heat with the internal heat transfer fin unit 320, thereby cooling the insulating space 101. The internal heat transfer fin unit 320 includes a plurality of internal heat transfer fins 321 to improve a heat exchange performance.

The heat transfer block 330 is disposed between the first plate 311 of the thermoelectric element 310 and the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 to thermally connect the thermoelectric element 310 and the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 to each other. The internal heat transfer fin unit 320 and an external heat transfer fin unit 340 keep a predetermined distance from each other through the heat transfer block 330.

The external heat transfer fin unit 340 is located outside the insulating space 101 and is thermally connected to the second plate 312 of the thermoelectric element 310. The external heat transfer fin unit 340 exchanges heat with air outside the insulating space 101, thereby discharging heat from the second plate 312 of the thermoelectric element 310 outside the body 100. The external heat transfer fin unit 340 includes a plurality of external heat transfer fins 341 to improve the heat exchange performance.

An external air blower 350 is disposed to improve heat exchange efficiency of the external heat transfer fin unit 340. A forced convection is generated by the external air blower 350. An external cover 355 is disposed to protect the external heat transfer fin unit 340 and the external air blower 350. The external cover 355 includes a plurality of air holes 356 through which air comes in and out.

An air blower 400 circulates air inside the insulating space 101 to improve heat exchange with the thermoelectric module 300.

A cover 500 protects the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 and the air blower 400 and includes inlets 510 and outlets 520.

Air inside the insulating space 101 comes into the cover 500 through the inlets 510. Thereafter, the air that has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module 300 is discharged through the outlets 520. The outlets 520 are adjacent to both ends of the internal heat transfer fin unit 320.

A shelf 600 is removably installed in shelf grooves 105 formed inside the body 100. Since food and drink, etc. is put on the shelf 600, the insulating space 101 is efficiently used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the air inside the insulating space 101 moves toward a direction indicated by arrows 111 by means of the air blower 400 and then moves through the inlets 510 of the cover 500 toward the thermoelectric module 300. The air that has exchanged heat with the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 having a low temperature is cooled and discharged through the outlets 520 of the cover 500 in a direction (i.e., an x-direction of FIG. 2) parallel with the door 200, thereby cooling the insulating space 101.

Although the door 200 is closed, heat loss may occur at a junction between the door 200 and the body 100, thereby hindering a cooling performance of the portable cooler and warmer 10. According to an exemplary embodiment, cooled air may be discharged in a direction parallel with the door 200, thereby forming a main flow of the cooled air in directions indicated by arrows 112 of FIG. 2. In other words, the main flow of the cooled air is formed on a plane (i.e., an x-z plane) parallel with the door 200. The cooled air discharged to the insulating space 101 does not directly meet the door 200, and only air having a temperature that has increased to some degree due to food and drink, etc. meets the door 200. Therefore, the heat loss occurring at the junction between the door 200 and the body 100 is reduced to improve the cooling performance of the portable cooler and warmer 10. According to the experiment results of the present inventor, the cooling performance of the portable cooler and warmer 10 according an exemplary embodiment increases by a range between about 20% and about 25%.

As shown in FIG. 3, the internal heat transfer fins 321 of the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 are disposed in the direction (i.e., the x-direction) parallel with the door 200. This helps air cooled by the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 to be discharged in the direction (i.e., the x-direction) parallel with the door 200.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heat transfer block 330 includes a pair of first slots 331 and a pair of second slots 332. The heat transfer block 330 is assembled with the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 through a pair of first tapping screws 336 that are to be inserted into the first slots 331. Also, the heat transfer block 330 is assembled with the external heat transfer fin unit 340 through a pair of second tapping screws 337 that are to be inserted into the second slots 332. Since a process of forming additional screw threads in the heat transfer block 330 is omitted by using the first and second tapping screws 336 and 337, the heat transfer block 330 may be produced using a single extrusion process. Therefore, manufacturing cost is reduced, and production cost of the portable cooler and warmer 10 is reduced.

According to an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a direction of the internal heat transfer fins 321 is orthogonal to a direction of the external heat transfer fins 341. In other words, the internal heat transfer fins 321 are formed along an x-axis, and the external heat transfer fins 341 are formed along a y-axis direction. However, the direction of the external heat transfer fins 341 may be parallel with the direction of the internal heat transfer fins 321. In this case, the second slots 332 of the heat transfer block 330 may be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 500 is pressurized toward the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 and thus snap-fitted to the internal heat transfer fin unit 320. For this purpose, the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 includes guide grooves 322, and the cover 500 includes guide projections 502 corresponding to the guide grooves 322. Cut lines 503 are formed in the cover 500 to make an elastic deformation of the cover 500 that is necessary when the cover 500 is snap-fitted to the internal heat transfer fin unit 320.

In terms of a structure of the portable cooler and warmer 10, only after the thermoelectric module 300 is assembled with the body 100, the cover 500 is assembled with the body 100. It was difficult to assemble the cover 500 because the back wall 110 and both sidewalls 120 of the body 100 are blocked. However, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the cover 500 is just pressurized in a z-direction inside the body 100 so that assembling of the cover 500 can be easily implemented.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the guide grooves 322 are formed in the internal heat transfer fin unit 320, and the guide projections 502 are formed in the cover 500. However, the guide grooves 322 may be formed in the cover 500, and the guide projections 502 may be formed in the internal heat transfer fin unit 320.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the guide grooves 322 extend parallel with the internal heat transfer fins 321. If the guide grooves 322 are not parallel with the internal heat transfer fins 321, an additional process of forming the guide grooves 322 is added after the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 is formed or the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 is produced by casting that increases production cost. However, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, since the guide grooves 322 extend parallel with the internal heat transfer fins 321, the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 may be produced using a single extrusion process. Therefore, the production cost of the portable cooler and warmer 10 is reduced.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a cover 500′ according to another exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cover 500′ includes first and second divided cover bodies 530 and 540. The first and second divided cover bodies 530 and 540 slide on the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 in a direction facing the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 to be combined with each other, thereby forming the cover 500′. For this purpose, the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 includes the guide grooves 322, and the first and second divided cover bodies 530 and 540 include guide projections 502 corresponding to the guide grooves 322. To combine the first and second divided cover bodies 530 and 540 with each other, fixing grooves 505 are formed in the first cover divided body 530, and fixing projections 506 corresponding to the combination grooves 505 are formed in the second cover divided body 540.

In this case, since sizes of the first and second divided cover bodies 530 and 540 are reduced, the cover 500′ is easily assembled in a small space blocked by the back wall 100 and the both sidewalls 120 of the body 100. Also, as described in the previous embodiment, since the guide grooves 322 extend parallel with the internal heat transfer fins 321, the internal heat transfer fin unit 320 may be produced using a single extrusion process.

In FIG. 5, the guide grooves 322 are formed in the internal heat transfer fin unit 320, and the guide projections 502 are formed in the first and second divided cover bodies 530 and 540. However, the guide grooves 322 may be formed in the first and second divided cover bodies 530 and 540, and the guide projections 502 may be formed in the internal heat transfer fin unit 320.

As shown in FIG. 1, holes 601 are formed in the shelf 600, and air circulating in the insulating space 101 passes through the holes 601. Since air circulation in the insulating space 101 becomes smooth through the holes 601, the cooling performance of the portable cooler and warmer 10 is improved.

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view illustrating the thermoelectric element 310. As shown in FIG. 6, uneven parts are formed at a junction between the thermoelectric element 310 and the external heat transfer fin unit 340, and uneven parts are formed at a junction between the thermoelectric element 310 and the heat transfer block 330. Contact areas increase due to these uneven parts, and thus an amount of transferred heat is increased, thereby improving cooling efficiency of the portable cooler and warmer 10. Thermal grease may be coated on the junction between the thermoelectric element 310 and the external heat transfer fin unit 340 and the junction between the thermoelectric element 310 and the heat transfer block 330.

The case where the portable cooler and warmer 10 performs the role of the refrigerator has been described in the previous explanation. However, if a direction of a current supplied to the thermoelectric element 310 is reversed, the portable cooler and warmer 10 performs a role of a warmer cabinet. In this case, a heat flow is opposite to that described in the previous explanation. However, a heating performance of the portable cooler and warmer 10 is improved for the same reason as the previous explanation.

Although various example embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these example embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A portable cooler and warmer, comprising: a body to form an insulating space inside the portable cooler and warmer; a door to be disposed on a side of the body; a thermoelectric module to generate a temperature difference between the insulating space and an outside of the body; and an air blower to circulate air inside the insulating space to exchange heat with the thermoelectric module, wherein the air which has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module is discharged in a direction parallel with the door.
 2. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric module comprises: a thermoelectric element to operate as a heat pump when a current is supplied thereto; an internal heat transfer fin unit to be located in the insulating space, be thermally connected to a first plate of the thermoelectric element, and include a plurality of internal heat transfer fins; and an external heat transfer fin unit to be located outside the insulating space, be thermally connected to a second plate of the thermoelectric element, and include a plurality of external heat transfer fins, wherein the plurality of internal heat transfer fins are disposed parallel with the door.
 3. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the thermoelectric module further comprises a heat transfer block to be disposed between the first plate of the thermoelectric element and the internal heat transfer fin unit.
 4. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heat transfer block is assembled with the internal heat transfer fin unit through a pair of first tapping screws and assembled with the external heat transfer fin unit through a pair of second tapping screws.
 5. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the heat transfer block comprises a pair of slots into which the first and second tapping screws are inserted.
 6. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the heat transfer block comprises: a pair of first slots into which the pair of first tapping screws are inserted; and a pair of second slots into which the pair of second tapping screws are inserted.
 7. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a cover to protect the internal heat transfer fin unit and the air blower.
 8. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cover is pressurized toward the internal heat transfer fin unit to snap-fitted to the internal heat transfer fin unit.
 9. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the internal heat transfer fin unit comprises guide grooves or guide projections for the snap-fit of the cover, wherein the guide grooves or the guide projections extend parallel with the internal heat transfer fins.
 10. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cover comprises first and second divided cover bodies, wherein the first and second divided cover bodies slide on the internal heat transfer fin unit in a direction facing the internal heat transfer fin unit to be combined with each other.
 11. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 10, wherein the internal heat transfer fin unit comprises guide grooves or guide projections for the sliding of the first and second divided cover bodies, wherein the guide grooves or the guide projections extend parallel with the internal heat transfer fins.
 12. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cover comprises: inlets to allow the air inside the insulating space to come into the cover; and outlets to be disposed adjacent to both ends of the internal heat transfer fin unit to discharge the air that has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module.
 13. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the internal heat transfer fin unit is formed using an extrusion process.
 14. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heat transfer block is formed using an extrusion process.
 15. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a shelf to be removably installed in the body, wherein holes are formed in the shelf, and the air circulating in the insulating space passes through the holes.
 16. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 2, wherein uneven parts are formed at a junction between the thermoelectric element and the external heat transfer fin unit.
 17. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 3, wherein uneven parts are formed at a junction between the thermoelectric element and the heat transfer block.
 18. A portable cooler and warmer, comprising: a body to form an insulating space inside the portable cooler and warmer; a door to be disposed on a side of the body; a thermoelectric module to generate a temperature difference between the insulating space and an outside of the body; and a cover to project the thermoelectric module, wherein air which has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module is discharged through outlets of the cover in a direction parallel with the door.
 19. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the cover is pressurized toward the thermoelectric module to be snap-fitted to the thermoelectric module.
 20. The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the cover comprises first and second divided cover bodies, wherein the first and second divided cover bodies slide on the thermoelectric module in a direction facing the thermoelectric module to be combined with each other. 